Table of Contents
So today, I’m peeling back the screen protector (not literally; I’m too scared to try) and giving you a tour of the apps that keep me somewhat organized, entertained, and possibly even healthier. We’ve got everything from calorie counters to to-do lists, with a sprinkle of social media and shopping, because balance is everything. Let’s get into it!
Health and Wellness
Alright, let’s start with the basics: staying alive. Or, at the very least, pretending I’m trying to get into better shape. The front and center of my home screen is the peak health widget, which tracks active energy, steps, exercise minutes, and sleep. Yes, it’s basically a tiny digital stalker. Every day, it’s there, silently judging my lack of movement and cheering when I manage to hit those elusive step goals. It’s like having a personal trainer who doesn’t yell at me but gives me just enough guilt to make me feel bad about watching another episode on the couch.
Then, there’s Calory. This little guy is my calorie-counting sidekick. I plug in my meals, snacks, and the occasional midnight cereal binge, and it tells me just how far off the rails I’ve gone for the day. They say, “knowledge is power,” but I’m not sure they were referring to the amount of calories in a donut… Anyway, I find Calory helpful for keeping my eating habits in check. And sometimes, it’s fun to gamify food. Hit the calorie goal and win a prize! (The prize usually feels a little smug, but hey, it’s something.)
Lastly, let’s talk about Exercise Minutes. Now, the goal is to see a number here greater than zero, but I’m not going to lie—some days, I settle for a casual walk to the fridge. On other days, I might actually put on workout clothes and break a sweat. And those are the days my iPhone is like, “Whoa, where are we going with this?” These little wellness widgets are like my accountability buddies, nudging me to move more and avoid that second scoop of ice cream. (But do I listen? The answer is sometimes.)
Productivity and Organization
Productivity apps—the backbone of any respectable home screen and a constant reminder of my optimistic tendencies. These apps promise to make me a more organized, focused, and responsible adult, which is a tall order. Let’s break down the digital dream team.
First up, 1Password. This app is basically the Fort Knox of my phone. It holds all my passwords, which, let’s be honest, I would never remember on my own. Gone are the days of using “password123” and hoping for the best. Now, I’ve got a dozen random, uncrackable strings of nonsense, and I don’t have to remember them! Honestly, if 1Password ever crashes, I’m doomed. But until then, I can rest easy knowing my online banking login is as safe as it is forgettable.
Next, we’ve got Things 3. Oh, Things, you ambitious little list-maker. I put all my weekly to-dos, reminders, and grand plans in this app. There’s something very satisfying about checking off a task, even if it’s as minor as remembering to water a plant. Things keep me organized—or, at least, it tries. Sometimes, I open it, see all the unchecked boxes, and quietly close it again, pretending I never looked.
Then, there’s Bear. Bear is my go-to for note-taking and the random thoughts that pop into my head throughout the day. It’s like a diary but without the embarrassing “Dear Diary” intro. I jot down ideas, make lists, and occasionally draft poetic musings about why my coffee tastes weird today. Bear is super minimalist, which is probably why I like it. It feels like a blank canvas, inviting me to be creative, organized, or, let’s face it, just rant a little.
Finally, there’s Widgy, the app that makes my home screen look way cooler than it actually is. With Widgy, I can create custom widgets that show exactly what I want and where I want it. It’s like having a personal interior decorator, but for my phone. Half the time, I’m just tinkering with Widgy to make my home screen look aesthetically pleasing. It’s a little victory in the battle to make my life look more put-together than it really is. This widget I'm using is called the Mini Drawer Widgy Widget from This Is E.
These apps are like my board of directors, keeping me semi-productive, moderately organized, and even closer to achieving that elusive “put-together” vibe.
Social and Communication
Okay, here we are: the social and communication section, where I stay connected with friends, family, and occasionally, random strangers on the internet. This part of my phone is like a party—sometimes it’s fun, sometimes it’s overwhelming, and every once in a while, I end up questioning my life choices.
First, there’s WhatsApp. This is the app I use to stay in touch with pretty much everyone I know. Group chats, family check-ins, catching up with friends—it all happens here. It’s convenient, it’s reliable, and it’s always filled with at least one chat that I haven’t replied to in two days. But hey, it’s the thought that counts, right? Plus, I’ve got a love-hate relationship with the “last seen” feature. Nothing like knowing someone saw my message and decided it wasn’t reply-worthy. Brutal.
Then there’s Threads. Threads is a bit newer to the game, but it’s quickly become one of my go-to apps for social updates. It’s like Twitter’s fun, slightly more chill cousin, and I love it. It’s great for quick updates, random thoughts, and following people who are way cooler than me. I’m still figuring out the best way to use it, but for now, it’s my go-to for posting something that’s too short for Instagram but too long for a group chat.
Speaking of group chats, my Social folder is where the rest of the social apps hang out. We’ve got Instagram for the highlights reel and TikTok for the endless scroll of funny videos. Instagram is where I pretend I’m a professional content creator, posting photos and reels that look way better than real life, thanks to a few filters. On the other hand, TikTok is where I lose track of time watching people apply screen protectors. I’ll never try to learn dance moves, and I’ll never attempt them.
I also occasionally use Facebook, Bluesky, Mastdon, and YouTube.
Together, these apps make up my social universe. They’re fun, they’re a little addictive, and they’re always there to remind me that there’s a whole world of content to scroll through instead of doing whatever I was supposed to be doing. Productivity? What productivity?
Entertainment and Media
Alright, this section is where I go when I need to relax, unwind, and distract myself from the pressing responsibilities of the day—like doing laundry or replying to that email from two weeks ago.
Let’s start with Apple Music. I’m a big fan of having a soundtrack to my life. Whether walking down the street pretending I’m in a music video or just needing something to drown out my thoughts, Apple Music is there for me. I’ve got playlists for everything—workouts I don’t do, chilling out, hyping up, and, of course, those guilty pleasure songs I’ll never admit to anyone.
Next, we have Discord. Discord is like a giant group chat that never ends if you're not familiar with it. It’s where I catch up with friends, join communities, and occasionally get dragged into conversations about things I didn’t even know I cared about. I love that I can pop in and out of different servers, join a voice chat if I’m feeling social, or just lurk in the background like a mysterious figure. It’s socializing without leaving the house—a dream come true!
And then there’s Apple News. This one is my attempt at being an informed, responsible adult. I open it every morning, scroll through the headlines, and feel a sense of accomplishment just for being somewhat aware of what’s happening worldwide. Of course, I mostly read the lighter and tech news, but it counts, right? I'm doing pretty well if I know at least three things happening in the world.
So, these apps keep me entertained, informed, and vaguely in touch with reality. They’re my go-to for escaping the real world, even if it’s just for a few minutes (or hours—who’s counting?).
Photography and Editing
Let’s talk about the Photography folder, where I store all the tools I need to convince the world I have some artistic talent. You know that feeling when you take a photo, and it looks nothing like the beautiful scene you saw with your eyes? That’s where these apps come in. They’re my digital paintbrushes, turning my basic snaps into “whoa, did I take that?” masterpieces.
First off, there’s the usual assortment of photo editing apps, from the “brighten it up” basics to the fancy filters. I use these to fine-tune my photos, adjusting everything from exposure to saturation. Sometimes, I even go wild with a black-and-white filter and pretend I’m a serious photographer. (Nothing says “I’m artsy,” like desaturating an image of your coffee cup, right?)
I’ve also got a couple of video editing apps here in case I decide to film something worth sharing. Spoiler alert: this happens approximately once a year. But when the time comes, I’m ready! Whether it’s a quick edit of a vacation video or adding a few effects to make my latest cat video even more epic, these apps make adding that little extra something easy.
And let’s not forget the good old Camera app itself. It’s there for all the spontaneous photo ops, whether I’m capturing a sunset, snapping a quick selfie, or taking way too many photos of my food. Sure, I could just post them as-is, but where’s the fun in that? The real magic happens in the editing apps, where I can turn my everyday photos into something more Instagram-worthy.
The apps in my Photography folder are like my personal editing studio. They help me make the most out of my photos and videos, even if most of them just end up sitting in my camera roll, never to be seen again. But hey, at least I know they’re there, looking polished and pretty.
Shopping and Lifestyle
Ah, yes. The Shopping folder. This is where things get dangerous. Do you know how they say don’t go grocery shopping when hungry? Well, don’t open your shopping apps when you’re bored. Or tired. Or feeling any emotions, really. These apps are like a one-stop shop for everything I never knew I needed until I absolutely did.
Inside this folder, I’ve got apps for all the big players—Amazon, eBay, Etsy, you name it. They’re all sitting there, just waiting for me to browse aimlessly and discover some new gadget or a pair of sneakers I need (despite owning three similar pairs already). Shopping apps are a bit like a black hole; you think you’re just going to check one thing, and next thing you know, it’s an hour later, and you’ve got five items in your cart.
Then there are the specialized apps—like Nike or Nordstrom, for when I’m feeling sporty. I mean, I may not go to the gym as often as I should, but you’d never guess that based on the number of athletic wear items I have in my cart.
Of course, these apps aren’t just about impulse buys. They’re also super handy for essentials—groceries, household items, and the random things you need but would rather have delivered to your door than hunt down in a store. These apps are here to satisfy my every shopping whim without ever having to leave my couch. Dangerous? Yes. Convenient? Also yes. My wallet may not thank me, but my inner couch potato does.
Essential Utilities and Built-in
Alright, we’ve saved the classics for last. These are the OG apps, the ones that come pre-installed on every iPhone and never get deleted because, well, I actually need them. They might not be flashy, but they are my phone experience’s backbone. Let’s give them their moment in the spotlight.
First up, Phone. Yes, believe it or not, I still use my iPhone as an actual phone sometimes. Shocking, right? It’s mainly for calling people when I don’t feel like typing a whole message or when I need to yell at customer service. It’s a no-frills app, but it gets the job done.
Then there’s Mail. This app is where all my emails pile up in a nice, chaotic stack. I use Sanebox to manage my inboxes. It’s like the digital equivalent of that one drawer in the kitchen full of random stuff. I’ll get around to cleaning it up… eventually. I plan on making a video or post about this later.
Safari is my portal to the internet. Whether I’m googling random trivia, looking up recipes I’ll probably never make, or checking to see if I can remember the capital of some obscure country, Safari is there for me. It’s fast and reliable; sometimes, I know what I’m looking for before I finish typing. If that’s not friendship, I don’t know what is.
And then there’s Messages, the trusty texting app. This is where I keep in touch with friends, family, and occasionally, people I forgot I gave my number to. It’s simple and straightforward, and I love that I can send ridiculous memes and photos that will haunt my group chats forever. It’s basically my social lifeline.
Lastly, Wallet. This one’s a real game-changer. I no longer have to dig around for my credit card or forget my loyalty cards at home. With Wallet, I’ve got it all in one place. My phone is my personal assistant, reminding me of everything from my Starbucks balance to my next boarding pass. I just wish it would remind me not to spend so much.
These essentials may not be glamorous, but they’re reliable. They’re the unsung heroes of my phone, making it possible to stay connected, organized, and just a little bit lazier—all in one swipe.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it: a guided tour of my iPhone, complete with all the apps that keep me functional, entertained, and (hopefully) productive. From calorie counting and task management to scrolling and shopping, my phone has a little of everything. It’s like my personal assistant, fitness coach, and shopping buddy, all rolled into one shiny device that I probably spend too much time looking at.
Ultimately, these apps aren’t just icons on a screen—they’re little digital helpers that get me through the ups and downs of daily life. Sure, I may not use them all to their full potential, but they’re there when I need them. And who knows? Maybe someday, I’ll open that productivity app and finish a project.
Or maybe I’ll just scroll through TikTok for an hour instead. You know, life is all about balance.
And that wraps up the tour! Let me know if there’s anything you’d like to add, change, or emphasize. This was a lot of fun to write, and I hope it matches the laid-back and humorous tone you were looking for!